Degree Requirements and Related Policies

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Chapter IV

• Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
• General Education
• Academic Policies
• Baccalaureate Degrees
• Undergraduate Programs Leading to Provisional Educational Certification
• Masters Degrees
• Graduate Certification Programs

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

The baccalaureate is an academic degree awarded by SUNY Brockport to students who successfully complete undergraduate requirements in a planned, approved program that typically requires four years of full-time study. SUNY Brockport offers four such baccalaureate degree programs: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Each requires the successful completion of an academic major, the General Education program and certain other academic requirements.

In addition, SUNY Brockport offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in two distinctive formats through Delta College, Brockport's unique time-variable degree program. The specific requirements for each degree are summarized on the following pages. Additional information concerning the Delta College degree programs appears in Chapter V.

While certain programs of study lead only to the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Art, in most cases students may pursue either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. The distinction between the two lies in the number of liberal arts credits required (90 for the BA, 60 for the BS), and in the requirement for competency in a foreign language for those pursuing the Bachelor of Arts. Thus, a chemistry major, for example, may choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credits in an approved program with a minimum academic grade point average of 2.0 earned at SUNY Brockport and a maximum of 54 credits in any one discipline.
2. Completion of the General Education requirements.
3. Completion of a minimum of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400-level) courses.
4. Completion of a minimum of 90 credits in liberal arts courses.
5. Completion of an academic major program with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in courses required for the major.
6. Completion of a minimum of 12 credits in upper-division courses in the academic major.
7. Competency in one foreign language as described below.

Foreign Language Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

The foreign language requirements for the Bachelor of Arts can be met by the:

1. Successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate year of college instruction in a foreign language (212), or a more advanced course; or
2. Successful completion of four or more years of one foreign language in high school and the appropriate score on a standardized test administered by the SUNY Brockport Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

Placement in Foreign Language Courses

Students who successfully complete high school foreign language study are required to take a placement test to determine appropriate placement level.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credits in an approved program with a minimum academic grade point average of 2.0 earned at SUNY Brockport.
2. Completion of the General Education requirements.
3. Completion of a minimum of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400-level) courses.
4. Completion of a minimum of 12 credits of upper-division (300/400-level) courses in the academic major.
5. Completion of the academic major program in studio art with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in courses that meet the requirements of the major, excluding prerequisite and corequisite courses.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credits in an approved program with a minimum academic grade point average of 2.0 earned at SUNY Brockport, and a maximum of 54 credits in any one discipline.
2. Completion of the General Education requirements.
3. Completion of a minimum of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400-level) courses.
4. Completion of 60 credits in liberal arts courses (75 for students who matriculated before fall 1985).
5. Completion of an academic major program with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all courses required for the major.
6. Completion of a minimum of 12 credits in upper-division courses in the academic major.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credits in an approved program with a minimum academic grade point average of 2.0 earned at SUNY Brockport, and a maximum of 54 credits in any one discipline.
2. Completion of the General Education requirements.
3. Completion of a minimum of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400-level) courses.
4. Completion of 60 credits in liberal arts courses.
5. Completion of all course requirements as outlined for the nursing program with a minimum grade of "C" (2.0) in each nursing course.
6. Completion of all degree requirements within five years after beginning the clinical component of the major.

Bachelor of Art Requirements through Delta College Program

Option I:

1. Completion of a minimum of 99 credits with a grade point average of 2.0 in each component of the program and overall, meeting the Delta College requirements and the requirements of a SUNY Brockport major or contractual liberal arts major.
   1. Delta core
   2. SUNY Brockport major
   3. Delta College's Integrative Learning Experiences
   4. Foreign language (intermediate level), computer, and statistics competencies
2. Completion of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400-level) courses.
3. Completion of a minimum of 90 credits in liberal arts courses.
4. Participation in the assessment and evaluation program of Delta College.

Option II:

1. Completion of a minimum of 99 credits and the Delta College global studies major with a grade point average of 2.0 in each component of the program and overall.
   1. Delta Core
   2. Global Studies Core
   3. Global Studies Specialization
   4. Integrative Learning Experiences
   5. Foreign language (intermediate level), computer and statistics competencies
2. Completion of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400 level) courses.
3. Completion of a minimum of 90 credits in liberal arts courses.
4. Participation in the assessment and evaluation program of Delta College.

Bachelor of Science Requirements through Delta College

Option I:

1. Completion of a minimum of 99 credits with a grade point average of 2.0 in each component of the program and overall, meeting the Delta College requirements and the requirements of a SUNY Brockport major or contractual liberal arts major.
   1. Delta core
   2. SUNY Brockport major
   3. Delta College's Integrative Learning Experiences
   4. Foreign language (intermediate level), computer, and statistics competencies
2. Completion of 48 credits in upper-division (300/400-level) courses.
3. Completion of a minimum of 60 credits in liberal arts courses.
4. Participation in the assessment and evaluation program of Delta College.

Matriculation Requirement

To earn a baccalaureate degree from SUNY Brockport, a student must be matriculated; that is, formally accepted as a degree candidate by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students may register for courses without matriculated status, and may apply credit received from such courses toward a degree program at the time of their matriculation. However, the degree requirements a student must meet are those in effect at the time of formal matriculation.

General Education

Assistant Vice President and Program Administrator: P. Michael Fox
Secretary: Linda Hartmann
Coordinator of Developmental Mathematics: Cynthia Burke
Coordinator of College Composition: Jeanne Grinnan
Coordinator of Oral Communication: Matthew Althouse
Coordinator of Computer Skills Examination: Edwina Billings

The General Education program focuses on areas of study that the SUNY Brockport faculty, and recently, the SUNY Board of Trustees have decided are of such fundamental importance that they should be required of all liberally educated students. This part of the student's college education stresses development of the basic intellectual skills of writing, speaking, critical thinking, and mathematical analysis that are generally expected of college-educated persons and provides a good skills foundation for advanced work in a major program. In addition, the General Education requirements convey some of the accumulated insights about humankind and its cultural and scientific achievements, the nature of human societies, the natural order, and the systematic ways in which we seek knowledge and understanding in many fields. Finally, the General Education program provides opportunities for students to make connections among the various courses and disciplines they encounter in college and to apply their skills and knowledge to analyzing real problems in contemporary society.

SUNY Brockport offers three options through which students may complete the General Education requirements:

• the Traditional General Education Program
• the Delta College Program
• the College Honors Program

The Traditional General Education Program is the subject of this section. Before choosing a General Education option, students should also examine the Delta College Program and the College Honors Program. The descriptions and details of those programs can be found in Chapter V of this catalog.

SUNY Brockport, like all the colleges and universities of the SUNY system, is required to accommodate the SUNY Trustees recent mandates for student learning outcomes in General Education. The Trustees now require SUNY students entering in Fall 2000 or later to meet student learning outcomes in American history, western civilization, other world civilizations, and foreign languages, areas previously not required of all students. The complete set of requirements of Brockport's recently revised General Education program (including the Trustees' requirements) will be phased in for entering freshman students beginning in Fall 2001. Students will be required to complete the requirements of the General Education program as set by the College at their date of matriculation. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will have current information on the set of General Education requirements students are required to complete for their baccalaureate degrees. Transfer students become subject to the new requirements if they matriculate at Brockport in Fall 2002 or later.

Traditional General Education Requirements

SUNY Brockport's Traditional General Education Program has recently been revised. Student learning outcomes have been written for all components of the program. Courses are approved for the various components if they provide instruction guided by those learning outcomes. The complete program consists of the following elements:

Academic Planning Seminar (GEP 100; 1 credit)

A small-group orientation to college, designed for and required of matriculated freshman, including transfer freshman, in their first semester at SUNY Brockport. The one-credit seminar introduces students to the academic expectations and opportunities of college life and helps them plan their individual academic programs in relationship to college requirements and students' personal interests and career goals. It also provides students with a personal academic advisor with whom they will be associated until they have declared a major in a particular field or department.

College Composition (3-;9 credits)

Nothing in a college education is more important than developing an ability to think critically and to express ideas effectively. SUNY Brockport's composition courses are specifically designed to improve these skills. Because students' backgrounds vary widely, each student is placed by the director of College Composition in an appropriate course based on high school records, transfer records, standardized test scores, and initial diagnostic testing. Students with superior records or outstanding achievement on in-class diagnostic tests may be waived from the College Composition requirement.

Students with serious writing skill deficiencies will be placed in ENL 101 English for Foreign Students or ENL 102 Fundamentals of College Composition, and will be required to earn a grade of "C" or better before entering into ENL 112. A minimum grade of "C" is required to successfully complete ENL 101, ENL 102 and ENL 112.

Oral Communication and Information Literacy (3 credits)

The ability to prepare logical, well-researched, written and oral presentations and to deliver them effectively before an audience is an extremely important skill. This component of the General Education program gives an opportunity to develop the skills in information literacy needed to locate information and evaluate its quality. Presentations before the class will provide practice in public speaking skills. This course, CMC 111, is required of all students. The coordinator of Oral Communication will make decisions on the applicability of transferred courses to this requirement. CMC 111 will be phased in in fall 2002.

College Mathematics: (3 credits)

The importance of mathematical analysis in contemporary society, in a variety of college programs, and in general intellectual development is reflected in this component of the General Education program. SUNY Brockport requires freshmen and transfer students without an associate degree to demonstrate competence in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and quantitative reasoning. Initial placement into one of the following categories by the Coordinator of Developmental Mathematics is based on high school and/or college transfer courses and Math SAT scores.

Students with serious mathematical skill deficiencies will be placed either in QNT 110 Introduction to Mathematics or QNT 111 Quantitative Skills. Both courses are considered preparatory to the required MTH 112 course that meets the General Education mathematics requirement. MTH 112 will be phased in in fall 2002. Until MTH 112 is phased in, the General Education Mathematics requirement will be QNT 111.

Students may fulfill the mathematics requirement by passing MTH 112. To obtain a passing grade in the course, students must perform at a satisfactory level during the course and must pass the final comprehensive exam. Students with strong backgrounds in mathematics may meet the General Education requirement with no further course work. However, other mathematics or statistics courses may be required for specific academic majors.

Students may also demonstrate competence in mathematics by passing MTH 121 and any approved college level statistics course. The statistics courses include ECN 204, MTH 243, MTH 346, PLS 300, PSH 202, SOC 200, and HLS 488.

Students who have been waived from the college mathematics requirement cannot receive credit for MTH 112 or any course preparatory to it (QNT 110, QNT 111).

Note: SUNY Brockport requires an Academic Planning Seminar, and courses in composition skills, oral communication and information literacy, and college mathematics of almost all entering students. Students should begin them as soon as possible, usually in the first semester at Brockport, and complete them at the earliest opportunity. These courses are entry-level experiences providing a foundation for further college work. Students may not drop or withdraw from them unless there are serious extenuating circumstances. The Computer Skills Examination should be prepared for and completed as soon as possible because of the ever-increasing importance of computers in other course work.

Knowledge Area Requirements (Minimum of 25 credits)

As the intellectual "core" of the General Education program, Knowledge Area courses are designed to introduce the major content areas of a liberal arts education and to reinforce composition and mathematical skills. Such courses will, therefore, normally involve substantial writing assignments. Students will be expected to satisfy the following Knowledge Area requirements:

1. Two courses in the fine arts from different disciplines, at least one of which must include a substantial performance experience.
2. Two courses in the natural sciences from different disciplines, at least one of which must include a laboratory experience.
3. One course in the social sciences from a discipline different from History.
4. One course in American history.
5. One course in Western civilization.
6. One course in the humanities, from a discipline different from that of the Western civilization course taken.

Foreign Language (3-;6 credits)

Students are required to complete the equivalent of one year of a foreign language as a General Education requirement. Students are placed in foreign language courses by performance on a placement examination. Decisions on placements and waivers of this requirement are made by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Students may fulfill this requirements in several ways: successful completion of a 112 Beginning II, or higher, foreign language course at Brockport; an appropriate score on a high school third-year foreign language Regents examination, an AP foreign language examination, or a CLEP foreign language examination; an appropriate score on the placement test administered by Brockport; successful completion of a program of study abroad of at least five weeks duration and in which the language of instruction is a foreign language. Please note that meeting the General Education foreign language requirement does not meet the foreign language requirement for the BA and may not satisfy language requirements for major or certification programs. Students entering in Fall 2000 are subject to the SUNY Trustees' one course requirement. Brockport's one-year requirement will be phased in in fall 2006.

Contemporary Issues (3 credits)

During the junior or senior year, students are required to complete one General Education course that applies their skills and knowledge to a problem or issue facing contemporary society. Such courses encourage students to think seriously about the ethical implications of the problem and to integrate ideas and information from several disciplines. Special attention is directed toward enhancing students' writing and critical reasoning skills. Students who enroll in a Contemporary Issues course will normally have completed ENL 112 and the Knowledge Area courses. Most but not all of these courses also count toward the Upper-level Writing requirement (those coded "J").

Upper-level Writing

Students are required to take two upper-division (300 or 400 level) courses specifically designated as meeting the Upper-level Writing course learning outcomes.

Components below refer to requirements for students to take courses with specific learning outcomes. These outcomes may be taught in courses that stand alone or they may be included as outcomes in other courses. Students must complete courses that include all of these outcomes before graduation. Courses with these outcomes can be recognized by their General Education codes according to the code list below.

Perspectives on Women

Women represent half of the human species, and all students should be aware of the scholarship on and by women. Courses may not necessarily focus exclusively on women's experiences and perspectives, they will incorporate recent scholarship on women and introduce gender as a category of analysis appropriate to the discipline or area of the course.

Diversity

Courses with outcomes dealing with the analysis of social conflicts, prejudices, and/or intolerance arising from such issues as racism, ethnic hatred, religious intolerance.

Science and Technology

Courses whose outcomes require students to demonstrate understanding of the connections between science, technology, and/or the environment and society, and the associated benefits, cost, and risks.

Other World Civilizations (Non-Western)/Comparative Perspectives

Courses whose student learning outcomes allow students to demonstrate a knowledge of a broad outline of world history or the distinctive features of history, institutions, economy, society and culture of one non-Western civilization and compare the perspective of at least one non-Western, third world or developing society with their own.

Required Competency Examinations

1. Computer Skills Examination
   The growing importance of computer-based technology in society and its increasing application to many fields of study has led SUNY Brockport to give computer literacy a central place in its curriculum. Passing this examination is required of all freshmen students entering in Fall 2001 or later. Students may prepare for the examination by registering in GEP 150 Computer Skills Preparation (1 credit) in their first semester at Brockport. The examination stresses an ability to use the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Word word processing software. Future versions of the examination will include tests of ability to use email, library searches and databases.
2. Writing Competency Examination
   Brockport is in the process of developing a writing competency examination. This examination will be phased in as a graduation requirement for students entering in Fall 2002 or later.
   Please see the annual General Education Program Manual for up-to-date information on this examination.
3. Mathematics Competency Examination
   Brockport is also in the process of developing a mathematics competency examination. It is planned that this examination will be phased in as a graduation requirement for students entering in Fall 2003 or later. Please see the annual General Education Program Manual for up-to-date information on this examination.

General Education Course Codes

The codes listed below indicate the General Education requirements that a specific course will satisfy. Only courses that bear the code for a particular requirement are approved for use in the General Education program. General Education codes are placed after the course number in catalogs and course schedules. Courses may bear several codes and in such cases can meet several requirements.

Notes Regarding General Education Requirements:

1. Freshmen normally begin the appropriate Composition and Mathematics sequence during their first semester of study.
2. Knowledge Area courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Knowledge Area courses may be used to meet the requirements of a major, second major, or minor when approved by the appropriate department.
3. Courses taken to fulfill the General Education requirements may not be taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

General Education Requirements for Transfer Students

SUNY Brockport recognizes four kinds of transfer students, based on the total number of credits transferred, the number of liberal arts credits transferred, and the possession or absence of an associate degree. Each category of transfer student may have different requirements for General Education.

Because of the changes brought about by the Board of Trustees' recently announced requirements for General Education for the colleges and universities of the SUNY system as a whole, transfer student articulation between community colleges and the SUNY four year institutions is currently under discussion within SUNY. Please consult Brockport's General Education Program Manual for the most up-to-date information on General Education requirements as they apply to transfer students. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Academic Advisement will also have current information that can be used in advising potential transfer students on the transferability of their course work and degrees earned at other institutions.

General Education Courses

GEP 100 Academic Planning Seminar (A).

Provides an initial orientation to college life, learning skills, careers, and the information and ideas necessary to plan an overall academic program. 1 Cr. Every Semester.

GEP 120 Self, College and Career (A).

Gives students a foundation for a successful college experience, providing information about SUNY Brockport and a structured setting for examining individual interests and skills, and relating them to each student's academic program. Introduces learning strategies and study skills. Emphasizes decision-making strategies and the process of career planning. The instructor serves as the student's academic advisor until an academic major has been declared. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

GEP 150 Computer Skills Preparation (A,T).

Prepares students through "hands on" experience with the specific skills needed to pass the Computer Skills Examination. Freshman students are automatically registered for this course in their first semester. Students can take the examination at several points in the semester and may leave the course when the examination has been passed. 1 Cr. Every Semester.

GEP 250 Computers and Life (A,T).

Demonstrates the world of computers and their applications to modern living. Includes the concepts, process, history, application, effects, abuses, limitations and consequences of modern computer use. Explores implications of computer use for decision making and problem solving. Includes a hands-on experience where students learn to use computers. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

ENL 101 English for Foreign Students (A).

For speakers of other languages whose command of English is limited. Involves intensive experience in spoken and written English to prepare students for either Composition (ENL 102) or College Composition (ENL 112), depending upon the instructor's recommendation. 3 Cr. Fall.

ENL 102 Fundamentals of College Composition (A).

For students needing practice in their expository writing skills. Provides intensive work in reading and writing as preparation for entering ENL 112. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

ENL 112 College Composition (A).

Emphasizes the development of written discourse with special attention to the writing process. Requires students to generate, revise, and edit several short essays, as well as practice writing in ways that exercise their critical reading and thinking skills. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

QNT 110 Introduction to Mathematics (A).

Prerequisite for QNT 111 Quantitative Skills. Places a major emphasis on algebraic skills. Requires students to master the basic operations on signed numbers in both decimal and fractional forms, evaluate and interpret percents, and learn techniques for solving linear and quadratic equations and systems of equations using two variables. Introduces algebraic operations on polynomials, roots and radicals. Closed to students who have completed QNT 111 or any MTH course numbered 121 or higher or any statistics course. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

QNT 111 Quantitative Skills (A).

Enables students to meet the SUNY Brockport requirement in quantitative skills. Covers in the first two-thirds basic mathematical concepts, involving linear and non-linear relationships, and their graphic representations. Applies these concepts to problem solving. Introduces in the last third the basic concepts of probability and statistics, including computation of probabilities, measurements of central tendency and dispersion about the mean, and use of normal curves. Students will fulfill the Quantitative Skills requirement by passing QNT 111. Requires students to perform at a satisfactory level during the course and pass the final exam, which is a competency exam in order to obtain a passing grade. Closed to students who have completed any MTH course numbered 121 or above, except MTH 243. Note: It is expected that this course will be replaced by MTH 112 beginning in the fall 2002 semester. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

MTH 112 College Mathematics (A). Under development for Fall 2002.

Courses approved for all other components of the General Education program are listed in the regular departmental or program listings and identified with the designating codes presented previously in this section.

Academic Policies

SUNY Brockport honors students for their academic achievements both on a semesterly basis and upon graduation. Standards for these honors are as follows:

Dean's List: Students who complete a semester with a minimum of six credits of indexable grades, earn a semester index of 3.25 or higher, receive no failing grades nor grades of Incomplete, and have no missing grades, will be placed on the Dean's List.

Graduation (Latin) Honors: Graduation honors require that a minimum of 48 credits be earned at SUNY Brockport. A maximum of 24 of these credits taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis may be counted in this 48-credit minimum. Graduation honors are awarded for the following cumulative indexes based on all undergraduate work.

Academic Standards and Financial Assistance

Both the federal and state governments require students to meet certain standards of scholarship in order to remain eligible for financial assistance. These standards are based on the number of credits attempted each semester (Pursuit of Program), the number of credits accumulated each semester, and the cumulative index earned while doing so. The standards for the state and federal governments differ, and are complicated to the uninitiated. A complete explanation is found in the Appendix.

Maximum Credits Per Semester

For undergraduate degree candidates, 12 credits is the minimum for full-time status; 15 credits is a typical course load. Eighteen credits is the maximum number normally allowed during a regular semester. Students may be permitted to enroll for additional credits, however, depending on their class status and their cumulative index, based on guidelines established by the Faculty Senate. (For guidelines, see the Your Right to Know & Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook.)

Auditing Courses

Full-time students may audit a course with the permission of the instructor and the Office of Academic Advisement. Course auditors are not officially enrolled, are not obligated to meet course requirements, and receive no credit for audited courses.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

In order to earn a baccalaureate degree at SUNY Brockport, a student must complete all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative index of 2.0 or better. Students whose cumulative index falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation and will be subject to dismissal if good academic standing is not regained within a specified period of time. A complete explanation of policies and procedures governing academic probation and dismissal appears in the Your Right to Know & Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook.

Transfer Credits

SUNY Brockport awards transfer credit for course work completed at institutions accredited by a regional accrediting body as defined by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA), such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Course work completed at institutions accredited by other recognized boards that are constituent members of COPA will be considered on a course-by-course basis. Acceptance of courses will be based upon subject matter and relationship to established programs. Work taken at institutions not under the aegis of COPA will not be granted transfer credit.

A maximum of 90 credits may be transferred to SUNY Brockport toward the baccalaureate degree, no more than 64 credits of which may be earned at two-year colleges. For students transferring the maximum of 90 credits, there is no assurance, however, that their degree program can be completed in the minimum 120 credits. The actual number of credits remaining to be completed will depend on the program selected and the nature of the credits transferred. (Note Residency Requirement for Majors and Minors below.)

Passing grades below "C" will be accepted for transfer credit provided that the total cumulative index for all courses transferred does not fall below the minimum 2.0 required of all entering transfer students. While transferred grades below "C" will apply to general SUNY Brockport requirements, they may not meet the requirements for a specific program, such as an academic major or teacher certification.

A complete explanation of transfer credits as they apply to SUNY Brockport's General Education Program requirements will be found in the General Education section of this chapter.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Students may pursue a second baccalaureate degree, either concurrently with the first, or consecutively, provided that the second degree is in an essentially different area of study. Students pursuing both degrees concurrently must complete a minimum of 30 credits in addition to those required for the first degree, and must fulfill all prerequisite, corequisite and major requirements for the second degree program. Courses used to meet General Education, liberal arts and upper-division requirements may be applied to both programs.

Students in pursuit of a second baccalaureate degree who already hold a degree must complete a minimum of 30 credits, and meet all prerequisite, corequisite and major requirements for the second degree. Those holding the BA or BS degree will be required to meet only the Computer Literacy, Contemporary Issues, and Perspectives on Women requirements of SUNY Brockport's General Education program. Those holding the BSN from Brockport, or a professional degree from any other accredited institution, must meet all General Education, liberal arts and upper division requirements in effect at the time of matriculation. Transfer credits may be used to fulfill all General Education and College-wide requirements except Contemporary Issues.

The Academic Minor

Academic minors permit a student to pursue an area of particular interest, or to expand career opportunities. Students may elect a maximum of two minors. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all minors. (Note Residency Policy for Majors and Minors below.)

The Academic Major

All degree programs at SUNY Brockport require the successful completion of an academic major, which is a concentration of courses in an approved academic area. Most majors are associated with a single department, but a few are interdisciplinary in content and draw upon two or more departments for their courses. The typical major requires 30 to 36 credits, and 2.0 or higher GPA in the major courses although some require more. Some majors have prerequisite and corequisite courses in addition to those specified for the major program itself. A detailed description of the requirements for each major will be found in the chapter, "Academic Departments and Programs." (Note Residency Policy for Majors and Minors below.)

Residency Policy for Majors and Minors

The General College Residency Policy requires that students complete a minimum of 30 credits at Brockport to obtain a degree. These credits must include at least 15 credits needed for a major and, where applicable, at least half the credits for a minor and for a certification program. A student may petition to the appropriate department or program for a reduction in the minimum number of Brockport credits required to meet the program requirements in that unit.

Additional Majors

Students currently in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree may elect a second major, following the same procedures involved in declaring and pursuing the first.

Certificate of Completion of a Second Major

Baccalaureate degree holders who wish to pursue an additional academic major, rather than a second baccalaureate degree, will be candidates for a Certificate of Completion of a Second Major. Specific requirements for the certificate will be established by the relevant academic department and will be described in the Additional Major Contract provided to the student. Such students will register as non-matriculated graduate students, but will be charged undergraduate tuition.

Combining an Undergraduate and Graduate Program

Senior students in their final semester may register for graduate courses subject to the following restrictions:

1. No more than nine credits must be needed to complete the undergraduate degree.
2. The total course load cannot exceed 12 credits for both graduate and undergraduate courses combined.
3. A maximum of nine graduate credits may be taken.
4. Approval must be obtained from each graduate instructor.
5. The approval of the Office of Graduate Admissions must be obtained.

The combined graduate/undergraduate program will be approved for one semester only.

Graduate courses may not, under any circumstances, be applied toward the undergraduate degree.

Cross-registration

SUNY Brockport students are permitted to take courses at other Rochester-area colleges under tuition paid to Brockport, subject to certain conditions. To be eligible, one must be a full-time, registered, matriculated undergraduate student at Brockport, and the course selected must not be available at Brockport. Full details on cross-registration appear in the Your Right to Know & Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook.

Grading System

SUNY Brockport uses a grading system typical of many colleges and universities, awarding a letter grade of "A" through "E" to indicate the level of accomplishment in each course for which a student is registered. Each letter grade carries quality points which are the basis for computing a semester and cumulative index, also referred to as a grade point average (GPA). The letter grades and their associated quality points are as follows:

In academic programs or policies which require a "C" or better level of work as a minimum, a grade of "C-;" is not acceptable unless specifically indicated.

Quality points are based upon each credit of work. Thus, a three-credit course graded "A" earns a student 12 quality points.

The letter grades described above contribute to a student's cumulative index, and are therefore known as indexable grades. An alternative grading system allows courses to be taken on a Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. Such courses are not computed in the cumulative index, and are known as non-indexable grades. Students may ordinarily only choose the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading system for electives, may only take such courses during their junior and senior years, and may take no more than one per semester.

A complete explanation of the policies and procedures concerning grades appears in the Your Right to Know & Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook, including procedures for dropping or withdrawing from a course, for obtaining a grade of Incomplete, and for appealing a given grade.

Academic Advisement

All matriculated SUNY Brockport students are ensured an appropriate academic advisor upon admission. Freshmen are advised by the instructor of their Academic Planning Seminar, who will continue as their advisor until an academic major is chosen. At that time, students are assigned an advisor from the appropriate academic department. Transfer students who have not declared an academic major will be advised by the Office of Academic Advisement, upon request.

All matriculated students, whether full-time or part-time, are required to obtain the written approval of their academic advisor in order to register for courses for the succeeding semester. Advisor approval is provided either through the Undergraduate Advisement Preregistration form (for in-person registration) or a special code number (used for Touchtone registration).

While SUNY Brockport provides each matriculated student with an academic advisor and a variety of services and procedures to assist in reaching academic goals, the final responsibility for meeting all graduation requirements remains with the student.

Baccalaureate Degrees (BS, BA, BFA, BSN)

Undergraduate Programs Leading to Provisional Educational Certification

The Bilingual Extension Elementary or Secondary/Other, as appropriate, is available with all certification programs listed above except for French 7-;12.

Masters Degrees (MA, MS, MFA, MPA, MPS, MSED, MSW)

Graduate Certification Programs with Provisional Educational Certification

Graduate Certification Program with Permanent Educational Certification

Teacher Preparation

SUNY Brockport offers undergraduate teacher preparation for students seeking a career in the teaching profession. Students complete a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the academic majors, in conjunction with a teacher education program leading to certification. Each program provides opportunities for early participation, observation, or tutoring experiences, and culminates in a teaching experience in an area public school.

Graduates of SUNY Brockport are, in the broad sense, liberally educated persons with in-depth knowledge in the area of their academic majors. Those who complete one of the College's teacher preparation programs are, in addition, provided with the skills that are necessary to foster learning in an often culturally, socially and intellectually diverse group of students.

Important Notice

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards and revised NY State Board of Regents policies will lead to changes in education programs and certification requirements during the term of this catalog. Check with the department for the most current information.

Teacher Certification

Students who complete a degree from SUNY Brockport that includes an approved program of teacher preparation for certification are eligible for the College's recommendation for a teaching credential. Approved programs satisfy New York state academic requirements and, under the terms of the Interstate Agreement, the academic requirements for an initial certificate in many other states. The Application for Certificate should be filed with the College's Office of Certification and Licensure during the semester in which the student is completing degree requirements.

The New York State Education Department requires that all candidates for a provisional elementary (PreK-;6) or for a secondary (7-;12) teaching certificate achieve satisfactory scores on the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W) of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations.

For permanent elementary or secondary certification, the state requires completion of a master's degree, appropriate professional experience, and satisfactory scores on the Content Specialty Test (CST) and the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Performance (ATS-P) of the New York State Teaching Certification Examinations.

Candidates for provisional certification as teachers of health (K-;12) teachers of physical education (K-;12) or teachers of dance (K-;12) must obtain satisfactory scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (LAST and ATSW). For permanent physical education, health or dance certification the state requires completion of a master's degree and appropriate professional experience.

Information concerning the pass rates of Brockport students on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, and the statewide pass rates on those tests, is available on request from the College's Office of Certification and Licensure and from the Departments of Education and Human Development, Physical Education, Health and Dance.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards and revised NY State Board of Regents policies will lead to changes in education programs and certification requirements during the term of this catalog.

Information regarding New York state certification policies and procedures may be obtained from the SUNY Brockport Office of Certification and Licensure. Information concerning Brockport's professional education programs is available from the Departments of Education and Human Development, Physical Education, Health and Dance.